PTA to lift X ban 'at govt's behest'

ISLAMABAD:

PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman announced on Thursday that the authority is prepared to lift the ban on X, formerly known as Twitter, whenever the government requests it.

The platform has been suspended in Pakistan since Feb 17 due to national security concerns but remains accessible through Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).

During a Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat meeting chaired by Rana Mahmoodul Hasan in Islamabad, Rehman explained that the PTA only blocked social media platforms upon the government's directive.

He added that the platform's compliance with Pakistani regulations was notably low, with only 7% of complaints addressed in the last three months.

Rehman noted a significant drop in X's usage in Pakistan, with a 70% decrease despite VPN availability.

He stated that only selected VPNs would be allowed following a whitelisting process.

Discussing internet access and digital infrastructure, Rehman revealed that about 56% of Pakistan's population accessed internet.